I was up late last night, inputting numbers, ticking off boxes, checking receipts, and seriously wishing I had four or five more kids who still fit into a deductible age bracket. It’s tax time, and I suspect you are deep in the same morass of math and mayhem I am.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Craig Fuller is expressing disappointment that as part of his $3.8 trillion fiscal year 2013 budget, the president has included a $100 per-flight fee to fund the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control services.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and New Hampshire Governor John H. Lynch both recently sent letters to President Obama calling on the administration to recognize the vital importance of general aviation for the economy and communities around the nation. The release of the letters comes following recent reports that the administration is likely pursuing a “user fee” tax on these aircraft, which would be extremely harmful to businesses, organizations and individuals across the country that rely on general aviation, as well as the general aviation manufacturing industry as a whole.

The first question AOPA President Craig Fuller fielded from the audience of about 150 attending his pilot town hall Jan. 20 in Sebring, Fla., was about user fees, according to a report at AOPA.org. What are the chances of stopping the latest push? an attendee wanted to know. The odds are good, Fuller said — this year, at least. Read the full story here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Aviation groups are gearing up for another fight against the $100-per-flight charge for use of air traffic services after the White House rejected a petition calling for dropping the proposal.

Carolyn Lee of The Imperial (Nebraska) Republican reports that Angel Flight Central will face challenges if President Obama’s budget, including aviation user fees, is passed.

From the story…

“Richard Stull of McCook said the user fee proposal would hurt not only his flying, but “General aviation pilots would be negatively impacted by that. We do the Angel Flight by what we want to give back. There’s no remuneration for anyone. We absorb all the costs.”